It is simples; get Meatloaf and Billy Idol to present it in the Batmobile!

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

And to be honest when I read the thread title I thought they were asking him to hand back his 2000 Norm SMith due to an investigation into his playing days and his connections to Shane Charter. 

Instead they have chosen to glorify him.

then they'd have to investigate woewodin's 2000 year too...and we all know that's far more likely than the afl investigating hird

if $cully wins the norm smith in a gw$ victory over us, who gets booed more - him or hird??

10 hours ago, chookrat said:

It sends a better message than ostracising people who make mistakes for eternity. This can be a positive to raise awareness of doping, governance and mental health.

Nah. 

Pathetic by the AFL.

In other news,

The Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded by Adolf Hitler.

100 meter gold medal at the Olympics by Ben Johnson.

Tour de France by Lance Armstrong.

Tourism Australia's Gold Award for tourism to Ivan Milat.

Norm Smith Medal by James Hird, no that is a step too far and too soon.

And by the way Clayton Oliver gets pilloried for going down when elbowed to the chin.

 

 

10 hours ago, chookrat said:

It sends a better message than ostracising people who make mistakes for eternity. This can be a positive to raise awareness of doping, governance and mental health.

Eternity?  Eternity seems to be a lot shorter than when I was a lad. It's only been a few years since Hird was not only central to this embarrasing business but dragged it out pointlessly.  If you don't "ostracise" for a significant time but instead glorify the villain shortly afterwards, what message does that send?  How about forgiveness in 20 years or at least after a confession. 

I don't see how this raises the awareness about doping except in exactly the wrong direction.  Ditto for governance.  The AFL should not trash its brand in order to help someone who has mental health problems.  The AFL cannot right all the wrongs in the world nor help all those in distress, but it can keep its nose clean at least.

It's just occurred to me that chookrat must have been being ironic.

So what if he was a great player - makes it all the worse in my view.

It has been said that the AFL was merely following precedent, it was simply Hird's turn.  Well an organization as 'flexible' as the AFL could easily find a new formula for who hands out the medal, eg announce from now on the most recent or oldest hall of fame person does it or whatever.  Of course that would raise eyebrows that it was a slur on Hird - might also show the AFL as [censored] off about what Essendon did to the reputation of our game.

1 hour ago, DemonAndrew said:

then they'd have to investigate woewodin's 2000 year too...and we all know that's far more likely than the afl investigating hird

if $cully wins the norm smith in a gw$ victory over us, who gets booed more - him or hird??

Choice is always good

It's not [censored] hard AFL.

"Although James Hird is next in our established sequence of Norm Smith medal presenters, we believe that the nature and spirit of the award is incongruous with his recent actions as an AFL coach. We are therefore bringing forward the next Norm Smith award winner in line, Shaun Hart, to present the medal in the 2017 Grand Final. James Hird may be invited to present the award at a later date."

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

actually i heard jobe's brownlow is hanging on elvis presley's wall in his tijuana home along side the holy grail and the ark of the covenant 

........and BBO's virginity.

I understand some of the comments about everyone deserving a 2nd chance, and how it could provide a powerful conversation for those recovering from mental illness. I also agree that he is one of the most gifted footballers I have seen play the game - I have him in my best ever 22. But I have worked connected to  rehab services and programs most of my life, and unless Hird comes forward and acknowledges his wrongdoing, the opportunity for a 2nd chance and recovery are pipe-dreams.  

Perhaps 2 cases in point are people like Wayne Carey and Barry Hall. Both demonstrated they had very ugly parts of their character. Listen to them now. They are open about their wrongdoing and are invited into anti violence groups to talk. Perhaps if Hird demonstrated something similar people would warm to him. But as long as he remains aloof, indifferent and unrepentant he will remain on the outer, rejected, and stuck in his self delusion. 

10 hours ago, biggestred said:

Id agree with those saying he should be welcomed back IF hed accepted his responsibilities and then actually not launched every wasteful court case he could, and still maintain innocence when they were clearly very guilty!

They were found guilty, but I'm not so sure they were "clearly very guilty". The "strands in a cable" argument is sound, but so is the "breaks in the chain" argument. It could so easily have gone the other way.

11 minutes ago, Choke said:

It's not [censored] hard AFL.

"Although James Hird is next in our established sequence of Norm Smith medal presenters, we believe that the nature and spirit of the award is incongruous with his recent actions as an AFL coach. We are therefore bringing forward the next Norm Smith award winner in line, Shaun Hart, to present the medal in the 2017 Grand Final. James Hird may be invited to present the award at a later date."

I can understand the AFL thought process. Should we stick with tradition (albeit, a relatively new one) or not? I think Choke has summed it up best. The AFL should have gone with the "it's too soon" line. Of course, James Hird might do them a favour and decline which ironically would go some way in the minds of many football fans to kick-start his redemption.

To be honest, I'd never realised that the medal was being presented by past winners in order anyway.

WOW amazing how many people on here have never made mistakes in their life,hats off to you .

I think the only mistake Hird made was trusting the wrong people ( Dank ) just as the players trusted the club, i dont believe they tried to cheat the system, just get as close to the line as you can,which you can do legally .

They just had a weak dog (Dank) running the show,who has never said a word , Hird made a mistake he has paid a huge price as have the players ... time to let it go .

Happy for him to present the medal and hope there is no booing not a good thing for the player who wins it either just to hear booing .       

46 minutes ago, old demon me!!! said:

WOW amazing how many people on here have never made mistakes in their life,hats off to you .

I think the only mistake Hird made was trusting the wrong people ( Dank ) just as the players trusted the club, i dont believe they tried to cheat the system, just get as close to the line as you can,which you can do legally .

They just had a weak dog (Dank) running the show,who has never said a word , Hird made a mistake he has paid a huge price as have the players ... time to let it go .

Happy for him to present the medal and hope there is no booing not a good thing for the player who wins it either just to hear booing .       

I've never organised for a bunch of young men for whom I'm responsible for and who trust me to be systematically injected with performance enchancing substances. A regime that he and a convicted drug trafficker just happened to lose the documentation for. This regime was designed to cheat the system so Essendon could win a flag, it was a disgrace. 

When I've done the wrong thing I've accepted responsibly and apologised for my actions and to anyone my actions may have effected. 

Hird has never accepted any responsibility and never apologised. The issue is not only what happened at Essendon, but the way Hird conducted himself. He has lost the right to present the medal.

3 hours ago, Abe said:

The AFL has shown once again that they have zero interest in maintaining the integrity of the game. 

Less than five years after this guy was the senior coach and was a huge part of an illegal supplements saga, he's presenting an award that stands for the integrity of the game on the big stage. 

This on the back of the AFL giving them pick one last year which was also a joke. 

He should Have been banned for life for his involvement in that disaster and we are still yet to see what the long term health implications are for the players. 

The Norm Smith medal is awarded not based on integrity but to the best player in the Grand Final. Hird was the best player on the day and it is his turn based on the tradition the AFL has had in place for many years, so he should present the medal.

37 minutes ago, old demon me!!! said:

WOW amazing how many people on here have never made mistakes in their life,hats off to you .

I think the only mistake Hird made was trusting the wrong people ( Dank ) just as the players trusted the club, i dont believe they tried to cheat the system, just get as close to the line as you can,which you can do legally .

They just had a weak dog (Dank) running the show,who has never said a word , Hird made a mistake he has paid a huge price as have the players ... time to let it go .

Happy for him to present the medal and hope there is no booing not a good thing for the player who wins it either just to hear booing .       

Where are the records?

Hird had prior form with the convicted drug trafficker Charters in his Brownlow year. (As did Woewodin)

I hope he is treated as well as he treated those under his charge, with total disdain.

Just like arguing about religion or politics the argument will just go around in circles,you have your opinion i have mine and really dont care enough to go on about it....agree to disagree,each to their own and so on.

I wont be booing or turning off the TV or spew up but have fun which ever way you go.     

 

 

1 hour ago, Maldonboy38 said:

I understand some of the comments about everyone deserving a 2nd chance, and how it could provide a powerful conversation for those recovering from mental illness. I also agree that he is one of the most gifted footballers I have seen play the game - I have him in my best ever 22. But I have worked connected to  rehab services and programs most of my life, and unless Hird comes forward and acknowledges his wrongdoing, the opportunity for a 2nd chance and recovery are pipe-dreams.  

Perhaps 2 cases in point are people like Wayne Carey and Barry Hall. Both demonstrated they had very ugly parts of their character. Listen to them now. They are open about their wrongdoing and are invited into anti violence groups to talk. Perhaps if Hird demonstrated something similar people would warm to him. But as long as he remains aloof, indifferent and unrepentant he will remain on the outer, rejected, and stuck in his self delusion. 

Fixed

Late to the party, but this is an absolute joke. 

How can any good at all come of this?

14 minutes ago, old demon me!!! said:

Just like arguing about religion or politics the argument will just go around in circles,you have your opinion i have mine and really dont care enough to go on about it....agree to disagree,each to their own and so on.

I wont be booing or turning off the TV or spew up but have fun which ever way you go.     

 

 

"Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor."

Robert Frost, poet

I'm very disappointed they didn't ask the latest afl hero rob acquaro to present the norm smith medal. i hope he asks for an apology.

Dank to sing the national anthem and the weapon to parachute in with the cup pregame entertainment

13 hours ago, biggestred said:

Id agree with those saying he should be welcomed back IF hed accepted his responsibilities and then actually not launched every wasteful court case he could, and still maintain innocence when they were clearly very guilty!

Surely, an individual has a right to defend themselves in court if they choose to.

 

FCS, the simpleton SEN view of life is nauseating and far too common.  Why do I put myself through such vomit?

2 minutes ago, TGR said:

Surely, an individual has a right to defend themselves in court if they choose to.

 

FCS, the simpleton SEN view of life is nauseating and far too common.  Why do I put myself through such vomit?

could it be because you're a masochist, tgr?

Looking forward to the associated fan response survey on the AFL website...

2 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

could it be because you're a masochist, tgr?

He's a Melbourne supporter. Of course he's a masochist. We all are.

1 minute ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

He's a Melbourne supporter. Of course he's a masochist. We all are.

not me ldvc